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Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Best of Barbecue returns to Lake Placid July 3-5Delish.com ranks Lake Placid festival among the best in the USA; KCBS puts Lake Placid in its Top 20
USA Luge leads the organization of annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The aromas from the pit bosses will once again waft from the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid when the 10th Annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival, benefitting the Thomas Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid, returns July 3-5.

The center, located just down the street from the skating oval, is a not-for-profit organization providing support and programs for youth 10-18 years of age. The facility was inspired by the late Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer who dedicated his life to the area’s youngsters.

USA Luge, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, helps support the organization of the annual event as a means of giving back to its home community.

Daily admission is $5 for adults; children under 10 will be admitted free of charge. And for the first time, the I Love BBQ and Music Festival and the I Love NY Horse Show will participate in reciprocal agreements, effective July 3-5. Ticket holders for one of those events during those days can gain entry to the other.

“For the last nine years, the I Love Barbecue and Music Festival has brought to Lake Placid over 300 barbecue teams from United States, Canada and Europe,” said festival organizer Dmitry Feld, USA Luge marketing manager. “We’ve had over 180 music bands from Lake Placid to Louisiana, and have attracted over 50,000 visitors. And in the previous nine years, thanks to undying support from our volunteers, we’re proud to say that we’ve raised over $180,000 for the Shipman Youth Center.”

The I Love BBQ Junior World Championships will take place on Saturday, July 4, and will include the new Kids in The Kitchen division for youngsters ages 6-11. Paul Smiths College of the Adirondacks will offer $20,000 in scholarship money to the medal winners in the junior world championships.

In addition, the junior world champions will receive $4,000 from the organizing committee. Five-time and defending junior world champion Tiffany Londeen, of Eden Prairie, Minn., will bring her PepperQue team back to Lake Placid. She will be joined by several brothers.

The Grand Champion and New York State Championship titles will be decided on Sunday, July 5. These events are sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS). Organizers of I Love Barbecue & Music Festival are offering $9,000 in prize money, the most in the history of this event. The Grand Champion will take home $2,500.

Delish.com has ranked the I Love BBQ and Music Festival among its’ top 10 barbecue-themed events and festivals in the country. In addition, the KCBS has ranked the Lake Placid festival in its Top 20 nationwide.

KCBS 2010 Team of the Year and 2010 Jack Daniels Barbecue World Champion, Mike Wozniak, of Brimfield, Ill., will come to Lake Placid for the second time. Wozniak outpointed over 7,000 teams to win the KCBS title.

Festival patrons can sample the many barbecue delicacies during the weekend. There will be a pulled pork tasting event on July 3 from 1-3 PM for $3 per person. A $3 rib fest, where the general public can sample the best ribs in the East, will be offered on July 4 from 1-3 PM. It was formerly known as buck-a-rib, and is held in memory of former festival competitor Mike Grudzinskas.

Price Chopper will sponsor the Top Chef competition on July 4, all day, beginning at 12 PM. This event, featuring local chefs and pit masters, will enable patrons to view a food demo, with tasting to follow. The Top Chef event is dedicated to the memory of former competitor and Lake Placid Grand Champion Nancee Gell.

Live music, including appearances by Sven Curth, Larry Stone and other local acts will perform under the tent over the three days.

Entertainment will also come in the form of the Krusher BMX Stunt Team, with its high-energy BMX bike and in-line skating exhibitions, all three days.

An FMX exhibition, with motocross riders, makes its ILBBQF debut this summer. Patrons will be entertained as these daredevils launch 30 feet into the air over a span of 100 feet, executing a series of acrobatic maneuvers.

There will also be a kid’s bounce around area, face painting and coconut climbing trees as well. And for the third time in festival history, Dynomite, a mechanical bull, will appear in Lake Placid.

Special thanks to the Village of Lake Placid, Town of North Elba, Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department, Lake Placid Police Department, Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service, Butch Martin and the North Elba Park District.